Artstrek on the way to RDC this summer

Young people with a penchant for artistic pursuits will want to check out opportunities with Theatre Alberta Artstrek this summer.

Artstrek is a residential summer theatre program for teens that runs annually at Red Deer College.

This year, the program, which has been in operation since 1959, runs July 10-24.

Since those early days, organizers say some participants have gone on to become successful theatre artists, educators, and enthusiasts across the provincial theatre community.

During the program, teens practice the art and craft of theatre on a number of levels. Over the course of one week, they explore the facets of acting, voice, directing, movement, sound/music, design, creation and integration. The focus this year will be on the 1937 Pulitzer Prize-winning play You Can’t Take It With you by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

The program actually is divided into two camps depending on age. Exploration I (ages 13 to 15) runs July 10-16. Exploration II (ages 16-18) runs July 17-24.

The madcap comedy follows one family’s pursuit of happiness and features a bunch of zany characters, loads of wit and hilarious hi-jinks.

Artstrek’s instructional team is made up of professional theatre artists and educators from across the province. These include Marie Gynane-Willis (Theatre Alberta Artstrek director), Bill Jacobsen (administrative director) and Greg Dowler-Coltman and Tami Dowler-Coltman (co-curriculum directors). Rounding out the team are Ryland Alexander, Karen Johnson-Diamond, Melissa Mayville, Alice Nelson, Eric Rose, Ryan Sigurdson, Glenda Stirling, Karen Towsley and April Viczko.

“Red Deer College is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful partnership with Theatre Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts,” said Joel Ward, president of Red Deer College. “It is indeed exciting for us to have young learners on campus each summer with the excitement they bring to our college as they participate in this residential summer theatre program for teens.”

Registrations are now being accepted for the program online and by mail. For more information, check out www.theatrealberta.com or call Theatre Alberta at 780-422-8162 or toll free at 1-888-422-8160.